Since the onset of my blogging life, October of last year, I have been incredibly lucky with giveaway wins. Wall canvases and felt mice, vintage brooches and ink art. Notecards, a bumper sticker, a hamburger pin. Nunaturals. Swanson’s health products. Felt flowers, a bow necklace, a book.
and in the last month, two more tremendous packages have graced my doorstep.
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| Kay’s Natural Foods sampler package! |
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| Whole Foods gift card! |
Thanks to Stacy and Lauren, my grub won’t be costin’ a thing! (at least for a little while longer). I am so lucky to win these giveaways, and plan on hosting another of my own very soon!
In the meantime, however, I thought I’d share a few of my own favorite things to get or do for free (or pretty darn close).
“Freedom Isn’t Free… but these things are”
*ten points for the Team America reference…
1. The Library- A no brainer for me, but I have to sing its praises once again. Books, music, movies and magazines. Travel guides, museum passes, and the internet. Newspapers, maps, pamphlets and tax info.
All these things are free for the borrowing. The solitude I get inside a library? Priceless.
2. Sample day at the grocery store. Or farmer’s market. Or art opening. Or mall. Sometimes I like to go to the ritzy gourmet grocery stores on Sunday afternoon to try all of the goodies. When we were younger we stalked the Pretzelmaker and Dippin’ Dots for free samples. These days, I also harass companies for free samples of things and “like” many an item on facebook in the hopes of procuring more free samples. It adds up, and you never know what favorite you might find next!
3. Freecycle, Craigslist, Freepeats, Citypages, Twin Cities Free Market, Garage Sales. If you play your cards right, you can get a lot of things for free just by being at the right place (listed above) at the right time (usually when people are desperate to get rid of it).
4. Your local curb. Especially if you live near a university or in the months of May and June around these chilly parts of the country, you can get some stellar furniture or appliances just sittin’ out on the curb before garbage day. I’ve scored a pretty great TV and an awesome retro table, just off the top of my head.
5. Survey companies and rewards programs. I take occasional 5 minute surveys to rack up “points” that I can later trade in for magazine subscriptions, gift cards, and more. My old health insurance had a similar program (I miss you Medica!). Borders, Express, and some other stores give free money to use at their stores either on your birthday or a few times a year. You have to be willing to sign up for some junk mail along the way, but that’s what separate e-mail accounts are for, right?
And now, for some free things to DO! Not all of these are free, but I know there are at least a few in each town that are, at least at certain times or days.
-Museums- especially the quirkier ones.
-Gardens and Arboretums
-Zoos
-Explore your own town on foot as though you are on vacation
-Go fishing
-Festivals/ parades/ expos
-Art galleries
Well, that ought to be enough to get us through this dang recession, right? Well, maybe not, but I hope I inspired a little penny pinching and creativity in all of you!
Now it’s your turn- what is your favorite freebie? What’s missing on my list?
-Miser Meri
Woohoo, glad you won and received the sampler package! Hope you enjoy.
Ive never felt sooo lucky!!! I had a winning streak as well!! I love blog land!! Thanks for the tips!
so jealous of all your big wins!!! enjoy
Love all of these … but especially the library! I think that is such an under-resourced asset these days! Honestly, I stop by at least once a week (generally more) and have about 40 library books out at any given time! Love it. I am SOOOOO excited that Kindle is going to be hooking up with libraries around the country to make ebooks available for Kindle. The day the Minneapolis library system gets on that is THE day I order my kindle!
P.S. to a fellow Minnesotan – how are you enjoying this (finally) nice weather?!?!? So excited!
Dude. I'm jealous of your sweet winnings!
Yup. I love sample days too
Which survey programs do you do? I like mypoints.
Me too iuli- I have about half of the Northeast Library's CD collection at home right now, since I'm having a party this weekend
Sometimes when I do my returns the librarians look at me in awe/disbelief/ disgust/ admiration.
Loving the weather this week, too!
sample days at whole foods!!! love it
. ooo also at farmer's markets! 
i actually haven't won any giveaways before hahaha.
Megan- I do erewards.
Junia- keep entering, you will! Maybe it will be mine!
I love birthday month freebies from restaurants and retail stores. Even with "$ Off" discounts can get you a free item you wouldn't have paid for originally!
Amen to sampling. I've worked at a soup kitchen before and they eat pretty well these days. I'm thinking of just barging in and pretending I live in a box. And you deserve those winning.
duh, winning!!!
Love, vanilla
http://notesfrommycloset.blogspot.com/
you know, i've been very lucky with the giveaways this month…three already. (now that i said that, it's probably a done deal, haha). great list, though. i definitely like hitting costco for their free food samples. lunch for the minis…hehe. i wait to buy stuff when they have promotions – like clinique always gives away a bag of goodies with purchase, and i recycle my mac makeup containers to get my free lipsticks.
#5 – i'll have to look into this!
rockoomph.blogspot.com
I love my credit card's point system. I realize the things I get with it aren't technically "free" (since I have to spend money to get the points), but it's still pretty cool to be able to use the points to get gift cards a few times a year.
Museum free days also always make my day!
Ah you just gave me an awesome idea.. I need a couch and i am going to look on craigslist for one! (and of course, cover it!)
The library is such a great suggestion–books are expensive and take up a lot of space, making the library a super alternative!
I definitely need to use the library more often. I sort of have this thing about owning the hardback copy of a book though.
Have you found any decent survey sites? I've done a couple in the past, but never found one that was worth sticking to…
And I'm totally intrigued by those "protein chips" as I'm always looking for more sources of protein in my diet
Okay…can you reach through your computer screen and transfer some of your luck to me, pretty please
Seriously girl, congrats on your wins…what bounty! Those snacks would rock my socks…love me a good snack 
I am head over heels for the library…hubs and I make a trek there weekly…and it doesn't cost a dime…SWEETNESS
xx Cat brideblu
This is cool, congrats girl!
Henar ♥
http://www.OhMyVogue.com
Wow you really have won a lot giveaways!!
I love Costco sample days! They are so generous that I can literally eat a small lunch while walking around!
gosh I don't know…I am not that good at scouting out freebies.
Im too tired to worry about it. If one plops on my lap I am so so so excited.
but WOW you got it DOWN PAT lady!
ENJOY
Best.Post. Ever!! Your title made me giggle and who doesn't like free stuff!! Thanks for all the tips on where and how I get save a buck! My summer vacation is coming up and usually I spend too much…now, I'm going to try to do all these things. I'm sure it'll be equally fulfilling.
nice blog!
visist:
http://www.lusciousstyle.blogspot.com/
you lucky duck! I can't believe you won all those things!
I love museum free days
Food sampling is one of my great past times. Which is why I love costco. A few months ago I won a laptop from my internet provider for answering 5 part survey..Pretty awesome, so i guess they CAN justify their high bills
Those are some great suggestions! And yay for winning giveaways! I've won a few myself and I'm always surprised and thrilled
Free really is my favorite number too!! I love sample day at grocery stores. We used to go to Sam's when I was little, and on Sundays they would have the best selections out. We didn't even need lunch! haha
These are great suggestions. It always perplexes me when people don't take advantage of what their town has to offer.
I live really close to two major gardens and one arboretum. They are spectacular! I feel really lucky to have such natural beauty close by…
I take part in these online surveys about once a week. For each survey I complete, I earn points, and these points can be redeemed for gift cards. It's a totally awesome way to get stuff for free. Plus, I love taking surveys, so it's kind of a win/win situation!
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
totally love this list! nothing for me is better than grocery store samples
i love the library too! i was just there today. there's just something about a book…
and i'm totally jealous you've won so many giveaways! i've NEVER won one. haha
Oh man I miss Medica, too! I've been winning a few giveaways lately, too.
I've gotten a cookbook, some hairpins, and a hair/clothes clip for Olive. 
I also use freecycle to get and give allll the time. And the free market. Not so much craigslist, I'm always too slow!
Amen for samples at the g store….I hole that in Austin EVERY day is sample day and ypu can't go to ANY store without leaving slightly full and slightly tipsy. (Hello winetasting!)
It took a long time, but the St. Paul library finally has eBooks, which is awesome.
Great list! The only free thing I get is air. And its not even that good (NY smog and grossness). I will be sure to start getting some freebies!
You are one lucky lady! I feel like I'm always entering giveaways but I'm not so successful when it comes to winning them. And as for free services & entertainment, libraries are pretty amazing when you think about it! Free books, movies, music, and internet access for everyone – what more could we ask for??? I'm also a big fan of free samples at the grocery store, especially when shopping at Whole Foods! Who doesn't love free?
Teeheee my `love` dont cost a thing- Jlo
I recently did a frugal living post! similarly to yours
Love your blog!
I love your winnings! That's awesome!
As always, loving your blog post title! <3